Man who drowned off Kakanui coast was from North Otago

Whererika Popata, 30, died alongside his brother Kereta Tatana at Kakanui Beach, near Oamaru, on Tuesday afternoon. The pair are originally from Kaitaia. Photo: Supplied

Two men who died in the water near Oamaru were brothers, doing what family say "they both loved most" - diving.

Kereta Tatana, 24, of Kaitaia, was visiting his brother Whererika Popata, 30, who is from Windsor which is 19km inland from Oamaru, when on Tuesday afternoon they drowned while diving for kai at Kakanui Beach.